Hair dyeing apparatus



Sept- 1952 L. o. KITTLE ETAL 2,608,976

HAIR DYEING APPARATUS Filed March 4, 1948 1N VEN TORS 15w 0. Mrns /mw I/(/rr z Patented Sept. 2, 1952 2,608,976 .HAIRLD EING APPARATUS Levi0.'Klttle and Irene'iT. Kittle, r ;Los Angeles, Calif. q

Arn ca h M rch 4, Nes a-st. 13,032

This-invention relates toand has for-an object the provision of animproved hair dyeing apparatus which in its] broadest aspect includesthe provision of a conventional or special :type' of comb and anabsorbent pad, or pads, adapted to be saturated with a suitable dye orother liquids and either permanently or'detachably supported in positionfor use as an applicator so that as the comb is movedthrough the mass ofhair of a user the dye carried by the applicator will be readilytransferred to the hair. Y 7

Another and important feature of this invention is 'aspecial type ofcontainer adapted to hold asmall quantity of dye and soformed thatitgwill serve as a supportwhile the applicator is absorbing the dye, andalso whenthe applicator is temporarily'not in use "in a hair dyeingoperation, the container being or ,such cross-sectional form as toprovide a chamber for holding a quan tity of dye and having anarrowbottom portion m receiving the teeth of the comb and a widerupperportion for receivingthe' top of the :comb and applicator. I a

Preferably, the ends of the dye container are 'forined'with spout-likelips forpou'ring oif the surplus dye at the end of a hair dyeingopera;tion, orat times for pouring' residual liquid onto theappli'cator pads.we. are aware of other hair dyeingdeyices within the broadestconcept ofthis invention whereby an absorbent applicator pad is supportedinternally of the teeth of a. special type of comb; or the container isembodied inthe comb-and dye is "fed downwardly to the applicator as theapplicator is used. Our invention, however, contemplates the provisionof an applicator consisting of'one or "more absorbent padstapplicable tothe exterior of a conventional rattail or other form of comb with thelower margins of the pads depending below the roots of the teeth forwiping contact with strands of hair as the applicator is moved throughthe'mass of hair of a'user.

"Another" object of our'invention is to provide means for clampingorotherwise afilxing a suitable absorbent applicator'pad on one side ofa comb, or a single pad folded over the topedge and having side portionsextending downwardly over both sides, or separate pads o-nopposite sidesof the comb body. In anycase, the pads are adapted to be detachably orpermanently attached to the comb as may be found desirable by reason ofrequirements of production andconvenience of use.

Other objects and advantages of our hair dyeing apparatus will appear asthe description progresses.

lLClaims. (01. 132-12) 2 There is shown in the accompanying drawingpreferred and optional forms of apparatus embodying our invention, inwhich:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred form including applicatormeans appliedto a conventional rattail comb supported temporarily on aspecial type of combined dye container and supp f Fig; 2 is a transversesection of the same, on line 2 2 of Fig. l; i

- Fig. 3 is a fragmentary elevation as seen on line -4 of F 1;

Fig. i is a side view of a long conventional pe of comb having twoseparately hinged applicators supported thereon for selective use;

Fig. 5 shows anapplicator hingedly held on a rattail comb; and a v cFig,' 6 is an enlarged'cross-sectional view of the some; Fig. 1,'assection line 2--2, but showing a slightly modified form the comb. i

It will be apparent that whileiwe have illustrated only two forms ofcombs to which our apoi applicator borne by plicatormay'be applied, theapplicator is similarly applicable to various other types of combs forvarious purposes withoutmaterial change.

'Asshown in Figs. 1 and 2, our apparatus includes a comb C' with anapplicator applied thereto and collectively indicated atA, and acombined support and container B on which the applicator bearing comb Cis adapted at times to be erectly supported for the purposes to behereinafter more fully explained. Comb C as shown, is of conventionalrattail type with a body l, handle 2, and teeth 3 but may be of anyother desired form and size. 3

Applicator A may include a single absorbent pad A; folded over the upredge of the comb body ion a median line betweendepending fiat portionsandAs to an extent ilhl a'twthe lower margins ofportions A2 and As willbe disposed below ,thefroot line of the teeth 3, as shown in Fig. 2 jand will overlie the row ofteeth of the cojmbflfor substantially one-thirdof the overall length Qrsaic teeth along the opposite sides of saidrowat the root end portions only of said teeth. Substantially all of theportions of said pad'overlying the comb teeth are exposed in theiroppositely outwardly facing sides, and their sides that are next to theteeth are unsecured to the latter. Pad A is frictionally held on comb Cby a tensioned clamp D of U-shaped cross section which, together withpad A'is preferably seated in an elongated recess formedon the-upperedge of the comb and of a length equal to that of the applicator. Thus,the top of the applicator will be flush with the normal upper edge ofthe comb body.

The lower edges of the sides 4 and of clamp D are substantially abovethe lower dye absorbing portions A2 and A3 or 6 and I, respectively, ofpad A, and approximately at the root line of the teeth. In lieu of thesingle pad of Fig. 2 we may use separate pads A4 and A5 on oppositesides of the comb body I, as shown in Fig. 6.

It will be seen from Figs. 2, 6, the exposed portions of the absorbentpad or pads that overlie the comb teeth are so arranged relative to thecomb structure that the angle between the lo'ngitudinal axis of the combteeth and a line extend ing from the outer end portion of any comb toothto the outermost lateral portion. of the comb structure is less than theangle between said axis and a line extending from said outer end portionof any comb tooth to the lowest outer- ..most lateral portion of. saidpad or pads. The

words comb structure, as used in theforegoing sentence are intended toinclude any means that may be employed to secure the pad or pads to 'thecomb itself.

row lower chamber II adapted to receive only the teeth 3 below thelower. edges of pads A4 and A5 and a wider upper chamber I2 whichcommunicates with. the lower chamber in the-horizontal plane of parallelledges I6, I6 andis completely closed while the upper chamber is partlyclosed at-opposite extremities by imilar end walls I3, I3. Ends I3 arebent outwardly and are in- .clined upwardly to .form spouts I 4 of,angular or .arcuate cross section wherebyresiduardye in chambers. II andI2 may bepoured 0fi',,-;i nto a permanent container upon completionof a'hair dyeing operation or upon thepads at points 6 and.1 (Fig. 6) ifdesired.

As shown inFigs, 4 and '5, the applicators A maybe hingedly affixed tothe comb bodies, as at points I5, I5, in Fig.4, and I5 in Fig. 5, sothat one or both of the pairof applicators of Fig. 4 or the singleapplicator of Fig..5 may be swung upwardly out of operative positionforpurposes .of cleaning, replacement of the applicator pads or'otherwise.I

I n the'formof device shown in Fig. 4, the applicators may. beselectively or together used, there being separate applicators for thecoarsely and finely. toothed sections of .the.comb..

It will be noted that, as shown in Fig. 2, when theapplicator bearingcomb is positioned in the unitB, the teeth 3 of the comb are submergedin the dye in chamber I I while the extended saturable portions 6 and Iof pad or pads (Fig. 6) rest upon ledges I6, I6 at the junction linebetween chambers I I and I2 and are s ufficiently immersed in the dye toabsorb an optimum of liquid present in the upper chamber above the planeof ledges I 6, I6. It may be noted that only the freeportions. 6 and Iof the pads are saturable because the tension of clamp .D. holds theupper portions of the pads compressed to an extent which prevents theirsaturation. Hence, the quantity of liquid in container B is such thatthe quantity above the plane of ledges I6, I6 is adequate forproperlysaturating the free portions 6 and I of the pads.

Thu s,' when the comb and applicator are so supporte'd ror briefinteryalsduri ng a dyeing pp- 4 eration the pads are kept dye-moistenedand fresh and portions of a table, dresser, or other article upon whichthe applicator would be otherwise temporarily laid would not be stained.

In use, assuming that it is desired to dye the hair of a person, aquantum of dye is poured into the chambers of unit B to a level butslightly above the plane of ledges IS, the comb C with applicator A;thereon is? positioned in the container asshown in Fig. 2, andallowed-to remain for a period of time suflicient to satisfactorilysaturate portions 6 and I of the applicator pads with the dye. The comband applicator unit is then removed and applied to the hair" of a userby moving the comb through the hair as in an ordinary combing operation.

Inasmuchas .the portions of absorbent material that overlie'the sides ofthe teeth along their root ends are unsecured to the teeth and arepreferably of sponge rubber of similar material, as indicated in-thedrawings, the portion that happens to be in engagement with the hairina normal combing operation is free to swing away fromthe teeth forcompressionbetween the'scalp and comb structure or back of the comb; toexpel moisture carriedthereby onto said hair at the scalp. The-otherends of the teeth lead in the natural combing movement, and the factthat, the portions of the pads that overlie the teeth terminate asufiicient distance from the outer ends of the teeth so as not tointerfere with 'their function in combing of the hair, combined-with thepreferably'relatively high flexibility of. the pads thatenables theirswinging movement, results in the eflicient combing of the hair andeflicient applicationof the moisture carried by the pads with eachcombining movement As noted in Figs. 2 and 6,-the portions of the padsthat are nearest the tipsof the comb teeth. projectlater ally outwardlyof the. teeth-asubstantially greater distance than the.clamps' thatsecure the pads tothe comb, so no matter how flat the combmay be laid onthe head, the pads will be compressible between the head and the comb.

.Mustaches and other. forms of facial hair g'rowths may be similarlytreated when and as often a's're'quired to insure a permanency oreffect',.and with little or no. waste of dyes, amine imunu of .efi ort,and without:- soiling or staining the hands-of a user. ma hair dyeingoperation. .our hair dyeing apparatus of necessity, in- ,cludestheapplicator and itscombined support .and dye container asinterdependent elements because of the-necessity for'saturatingtheapplicator pads, with dye preparatory to: application of ,the' dye tothe hair, and because of the diflicultyof efficiently handling the smallamounts of dyeused ina hair dyeing operation without our dye container,.thereby providing a simple, economical, convenient, andclean compositeapparatus capable of use by unskilled persons.

The combined container and applicator'sup port being internallychamberedcomplementally to the external cross sectional form ofthe-applicator' unit, is adapted to steadily hold the'applicator whennot in use and while the pads are being saturated with hair oil, dye, orother liquid desirable for hair treatmentsJ The apparatus is especiallyadaptable for the application of oils, medicaments, bleaches, or dye toithethair, by professional or amateur hair dressers; The applicator unitmay be hingedly, detachably, or permanently held on any'desired form ofcomb for the herein mentioned gr any characteristics of difierent combs;i j The applicator pads ma-y be adhesively affixed to the externalcombsurfaces, cr -embedded partially-in the co'm'b bodies as' durin'g acomb moldingoperation; or-afiixedto the inner surfaces of the clamp D sothat a hinged ordetachable clamp will carry'the-pads. iTlie'applicationof our absorbent pads to combs of the 'form- -show'nFigs. 4 and Bare particuother desired"- purpose,- -regardl'ess "or sizea and larly'adaptable-to'the application of water and finger wavelotionor otherliquids to the hair.

This invention, therefore, comprises a special type of applicatorand acomplementary type of liquid container which together conduce to a applythe liquid to the hair without impairing the usefulness of the comb, andthe container serving to uniformly charge the applicator with anadequate quantum of liquid uniformly distributed throughout the extentof the applicator pads, and so supportingfihe app vc a ing position thatovercharging of the pads is pre- ;vented.

We claim: V

1 l; A hair'dyeing apparatus comprising: acomb, absorbent pads overlyingthe outer surfaces of the comb and extended downwardly to a horizontalplane below the root line of the comb teeth, and a clamp overlying thecomb and the pads and having tensioned sides bearing against the padswith the margins of said sides disposed in a plane above the adjacentmargins of the pads and the edges of the pads extended from said clampand disposed substantially above the teeth ends, said comb beingrecessed throughout its length for receiving said clamp so that themedian surface of the clamp will be flush with the adjacent surface ofthe comb body.

2. An apparatus of the character described comprising: a comb; anapplicator for liquids including pads on opposite sides of the combextending downwardly over minor upper areas of the comb teeth; aretainer for holding said pads on the comb and serving to compress theupper areas of the pads against absorption of a liquid while theportions of the pads extended below the retainer are freely saturable;and a combined liquid container and comb support formed with narrowlyspaced longitudinal ledges in a common horizontal plane between whichonly the exposed areas of the teeth are removably positioned with thelower edges of the saturable portions of the pads resting upon theledges of the container whereby, when the level of liquid in thecontainer is in a horizontal plane only slightly above the plane of saidledges, said saturable portions of the pads can absorb liquid above thelevel of the ledges.

3. An apparatus of the character described comprising: a comb,: anabsorbent applicator borne by the comb, and a liquid container in whichsaid applicator and comb are removably supported preparatory to theapplication of liquid to human hair, said container being formed with alongitudinal channel for the teeth of the comb and a substantially widerchamber thereabove for the applicator whereby the comb bearingapplicator will be supported in said chamber during the saturation ofsaid absorbent applicator while the teeth of the comb are disposed insaid channel.

4; Anapparatus of. the characterdescribed comprising: ailcomb, anabsorbent applicator borne 'by-the comb, and a liquid container in whichsaid applicator'and comb" are removably supported, the combined liquidcontainer and-a plicator support being internallychamberedcomplementally to the external cross sectional form of the combined comband applicatorlgf h 5; An apparatus of the char'cter describeclcomprised: a comb, absorbent pads overlying" the outersurfac'es of thecomb and extended down? wardly' to a horizontal plane below the rootline of 'the "comb teethfa clamp overlying the comb and the pads andhaving tensioned sides bearing against' th-e' pads with the margins'ofsaid sides disposed in a plane above the adjacent margins of the pads,thelower edges "of the pads being disposed in-a plane below the margins'of'the clamp, and a liquid container generally complemental incross-sectional form to'that of the comb and pads in'which said comb isremovably positioned vertically with the teeth directed downwardlythereby providing a support for said comb while liquid ada ted to'beheld 'insaid container is being absorbed by saidpads;

6. A hair dyeing apparatus comprising a comb and. absorbent pads amxedtoopposite sides of the'comb body and having their corresponding marginsdisposed below the root lineof' the comb teeth and a support in whichsaid comb and pads are removably supportedinternally formed to providelongitudinal ledges for supporting the pads and to provide a chamber forliquid, which chamber has a narrow bottom portion in which the combteeth below the pads are contained and a wider portion above said ledgesfor containing liquid for absorption by the pads.

7. An apparatus of the character described comprising in combination: anapplicator including a comb having absorbent pads applied to oppositesides thereof, a holder on the comb holding said pads in position withsaturable portions of the pad extended downwardly from the holder andpartly overlying the teeth of the comb; and a liquid container in whichsaid applicator is removably supported having a longitudinal channelinto which the teeth of the comb below said pads extend and asubstantially wider chamber thereabove with parallel spaced ledges inthe plane of the junction of said channel and said chamber on which saidsaturable portions of said pads are supported when said teeth are insaid channel.

8. An apparatus of the character described comprising: a comb, anabsorbent applicator borne by the comb and projecting laterally from theroot end portions of the row of teeth of said comb, and a liquidcontainer in which said applicator and comb are removably supported, thecombined liquid container and applicator support being internallychambered complementally to the external cross sectional form of thecombined comb and applicator, end walls closing the ends of saidcontainer, one of which is formed with a pouring lip for pouring liquidfrom said container.

9. A hair dyeing apparatus comprising; a comb, a pad of compressible,moisture absorbent material overlying the root end portions of the teethof said comb along a side of the row of said teeth, substantially all ofthe pad so overlying said portions being exposed on the outer sidethereof relative to said teeth and free from obstruction by the combstructure to compression 7 person, the moisture absorbent characteristicof said pad being substantially restricted to 'the part thereofv sooverlying said portions whereby substantially all of the liquid adaptedto be absorbed by said pad may be expressed therefrom by saidcompression.

10. A' liquid containerand support for a combined comb and liquidapplicator of the charac teridescribed in which the applicator comprisesa pad, alongside and projecting from the root end portions of the teethof the comb, said container and support comprising; a horizontallyelongated, upwardly opening channel member substantially complementallyformed in cross-sectional con- ;tour to the exposed outer portions ofthe teeth of such comb and the exposed outer sides of such pad'providinga relatively narrow channel portion for the ends of said teeth oppositesaid root .end portions and a substantially wider channel portion at thelevel of such pad, a ledge longitudinally of the channel on which suchpad is adapted to be seated when said teeth are in said relativelynarrow channel, and end walls closing the ends of said channel, and abase for supporting said channel member with its open side directedupwardly.

11.-A hair dyeing apparatus comprising; a comb having a back and a rowof teeth projecting therefrom, a pad of moisture absorbent, flexible,resilient sponge-like material extending longitudinallyof said row alongone side thereof,

said pad having an 'expanded, compressible 'portion overlying the rootend portions'of said teeth along one side, of said row for a substantialdistance from said back toward'the tips of said teeth, substantially allof the expanded compres- "sible part of said strip being disposed whollywithin the laterally projected confines of said comb with its entireouter side relative to said comb being exposed and free from obstructionby the comb structure to compression thereof between said'comb and thescalp of a person during a combing operation of said teeth.

LEVI O. KITI'LE.

IRENE T. KITTLE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

V UNITED STATES PATENTS Number

